Today, the Parliament in Italy voted to turn the Italian government’s decree of 2 January into law, despite criticism that these new regulations breach international and European law.
SOS Humanity’s Advocacy Officer Mirka Schäfer comments: “Since early January 2023, non-governmental search and rescue has been unlawfully restricted by a decree of the Italian government. Today, the Italian Parliament voted to turn the decree into a law. The new regulations and the assignment of distant ports for those rescued from distress at sea are hindering rescue ships from their lifesaving operations. Thus, even more people will die on the world’s deadliest migration route.
The new law violates international and European law. We therefore call on the EU Commission, as the guardian of the law, to take action against these breaches of law by an EU member State!”
